Contention is of the devil, for certain. No argument here.alaris wrote: ↑August 17th, 2017, 11:48 pm The public nature of the forum means our beliefs should be reflected in our words both on tone and in content. Still it seems your reply is a justification of contention. Standing for truth does not require contention. In fact it requires the opposite because the truth is contention is of the devil.
Do you conclude that when Jesus was preaching and spreading his doctrine all over Jerusalem and abroad, and because a multitude of people were appalled and upset with him for stirring the proverbial pot, and that many people tried to do him harm, that he was the cause of contention and disputations?
Was he wrong for taking a whip and yelling at the moneychangers in the temple?
John 2:14-15,19-21
14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15 And when he had made a scourge (whip) of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;
Matthew 21:12,14-15,23
12 ¶ And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, ...they were sore displeased,
Was Nephi wrong for telling his brothers that they were doing evil?
1 Nephi 17:44-48,52
44 ...ye also have sought to take away his life; wherefore, ye are murderers in your hearts and ye are like unto them.
45 Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God....
46 ...O, then, why is it, that ye can be so hard in your hearts?
47 Behold, my soul is rent with anguish because of you, and my heart is pained; I fear lest ye shall be cast off forever....
48 And now it came to pass that when I had spoken these words they were angry with me, and were desirous to throw me into the depths of the sea; ....
52 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said many things unto my brethren, insomuch that they were confounded and could not contend against me;...
Now tell me I am doing evil by standing up and trying to convey to others what the word of God entails. I make mistakes, some times say things incorrectly and even forget some points as has SHADOW pointed out so eloquently. However, I try to do my best but also try to not run faster than I am able.
Alma 1:26
26 And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength.
Doctrine and Covenants 10:5
5 Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.